Articles by Emily Harstone

Emily Harstone is the pen name of a published writer. Her work has been published in ten countries, four continents, by over fifty different journals. She is a professional submissions adviser and editor. If she owned a dog it would be named Wystan.

Paperbag: Now Seeking Submissions

Paperbag is an electronic literary journal now reading submissions for its 15th issue. They publish previously unpublished poetry, visual art, music/sound, and hybrid work. Their website is sleek, well designed, and poetry focused. It’s easy to engage with the work they present. On the main issue page, you can get a feel for that they…
Issue Five Hundred Three

An Argument for Writing Short Stories

“Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.’ — Ray Bradbury “A good [short story] would take me out of myself and then stuff me back in, outsized, now, and uneasy with the fit.” — David Sedaris Writers who are serious about improving and developing their…
Issue Five Hundred Three

Oxford University Press: Now Accepting Proposals and Manuscript Submissions

Oxford University Press, like most university presses, is open to direct submissions. It has much better distribution systems than most university presses. They publish nonfiction with an academic focus on a wide range of subjects. They are open to proposals and manuscripts. Their website is much more thorough in terms of helping outline how the…
Academic Issue Five Hundred Two Manuscript Publishers Non Fiction

30 Literary Fiction Publishers that Accept Direct Submissions – No Agent Required

Literary fiction is one of the harder genres to get published in without an agent. There are smaller presses that specialize in it, but unfortunately more and more of those presses are now charging reading fees. However, there are still good options for authors who are unagented and averse to paying reading fees. The manuscript…
Uncategorized

Enchanted Lion: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Updated March 4th, 2025 Enchanted Lion is a children’s book publisher based in Brooklyn that was founded in 2003. You can learn more about their team here. Their books are well designed, engaging, and have great covers. Many of the books they have published have been featured in the New York Times, and won awards….
Children's Books Issue Five Hundred One Manuscript Publishers

BearManor Media: Now Accepting Manuscript Proposals

Updated July 30th 2024: They appear to no longer be publishing books. In fact most of their announced catalogue for 2023 was never published. They have not published anything in 2024 that I could find. I would steer clear. BearManor Media is a independent press that focuses on publishing nonfiction books about the entertainment industry….
Issue Five Hundred Manuscript Publishers Non Fiction

14 Myths About Writers

What does it mean to be a writer? People have strong opinions. Many of them are true, many are wrong. There are so many false assumptions, clichés, and myths out there surrounding writers. Some of these myths contain some level of truth, others are nothing but rumors and a singular memorable example. Here are 14…
Issue Five Hundred Special Feature

22 Respected Literary Journals and Magazines

The literary journals and magazines on this list reject the vast majority of what is submitted to them. Sometimes established authors’ works are rejected for years, decades even, before they receive an acceptance. But these literary journals are respected and trusted. Most have a large readership and good distribution in libraries and bookstores. Many of…
Special Issue

Dancing Lemur Press: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Dancing Lemur Press is a small US Press that has been actively publishing work since 2009. They are based in North Carolina and seem to regularly participate in local events. They don’t have active distribution, which is to say that although they are distributed with Ingram, Ingram is not actively involved in placing their books…
Children's Books Christian Fantasy Issue Four Hundred Ninety Eight Manuscript Publishers Paranormal Science Fiction

Opportunities Open to Submissions From Historically Underrepresented Voices This December

This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities….
Issue Four Hundred Ninety Eight

22 Approachable Literary Journals

If you are just starting to submit your work to literary journals, or perhaps you just want to avoid rejection, this list is for you. All of the literary journals in this list accept between 20 and 50% of what is submitted to them, and a few have a higher acceptance rate. So the odds…
Special Issue

Interlude Press and Duet Books: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Updated March 6th 2024, they are not updating the website, and I do not think they plan to. I don’t know why Chicago Review Press appears to not be moving forward with this imprint, but there have been no new deals listed on Publishers Marketplace since Duet was acquired by them. Interlude Press and Duet…
Fiction Issue Four Hundred Ninety Seven Manuscript Publishers Young Adult

Orbis Books: Now Accepting Book Proposals

Orbis Books was founded in 1970, and they are the publishing arm Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, a Catholic organization of leaders in religious publishing since 1970. Within that scope they publish a wide range of books on prayer, spirituality, Catholic life, theology, mission and current affairs. The work they publish tries to encompass “the global…
Christian Issue Four Hundred Ninety Six Manuscript Publishers Non Fiction

21 Publishers Always Open to Submissions

Some publishers open and close their doors to submissions on a routine basis. It can be hard to determine if they are open or shut to submissions, and when you should submit. The following 20 publishers, however, are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. All of these publishers meet…
Special Issue

Yale University Press: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions & Book Proposals

Updated March 2024 Yale University Press (YUP), like most university presses, is open to direct submissions and manuscript proposals. Yale University Press was established in 1909 and you can learn more about their history here. You can see their current catalog here. When you submit to YUP, submit to only one editor. The editors are…
Academic Issue Four Hundred Ninety Five Manuscript Publishers Non Fiction

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